George  Washington  Flowers 
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COLONEL  FLOWERS 


BY- 


OF  THE- 


WELDON,  N.  C: 
Harrell's  Cheap  Book  and  Job  Printing  House. 
1  8  8  2. 


Hasten,  Lord,  the  glorious  time, 

When  beneath  Messiah's  sway, 
Every  nation,  every  elime, 
Shall  the  gospel  call  obey. 

Then  shall  wars  and  tumults  cease  r 
Then  be  banished  grief  and  pain, 
Eighteonsness,  and  joy,  and  peace. 
Undisturbed  shall  ever  reign. 

 .  o:— O— :o  

I. 

.  he  founder  of  Methodism  was  John  Wesley.  He  was  born 
at  Kpworth,  in  Lincolnshire,  England,  on  the  14th  day  of  June, 
lT03/the  son  of  Samuel  Wesley,  a  clergyman  in  the  Church  of 
England.  John  was  a  very  diligent  and  successful  student  at 
College  and  was  ordained  deacon  in  1725.  He  graduated  in, 
172G  as  M.  A.,  and  was  elected  fellow  o['  Lincoln  College,  Ox- 
ford. While  at  school,  he  with,  his  brother  Charles,  Mr.  Mor- 
gan and  Mr.  Kirk  ham  formed  a  club  to  spend  some  evenings 
in  the  week  in  reading  the  Greek  Testament,  and  in  trying  to 
get  good  to  their  souls.  Soon  after  Mr.  Ingham,  Mr.  Broughton, 
Mr.  Clayton,  Mr.  Hervey  and  Mr.  Geo.  Whitfield  joined  them. 
The  College  boys  called  them-the  "Godl}^  Club,"  and  afterward 
"Methodists."  This  was  the  beginning  of  Methodism.  Here  it 
took  its  name  and  rise,  and  in  1739  "The  United  Societies"  were 
formed  and  the  General  Eules  written  by  Mr.  Wesley.  Churches 
were  then  built  and  societies  organized.  Mr.  Wesley  con- 
tinued to  preach  the  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ,  aided  by 
numerous  fellow- workers  and  extending  his  labors  into  every 
part  of  England,  Wales,  Scotland  and  Heland.  Phillip  Embury, 
a  local  preacher,  in  October  1766,  preached,  in  his  own  house, 
to  a  congregation  of  five  persons,  the  first  Methodist  sermon  in 
America.  He  and  a  small  company  came  over  from  Ireland 
where  they  had  received  tLe  doctrine  from  Mr.  Yv'esley  and  his 
1  preachers  in  17G0.  In  1768  the  first  Methodist  Church  in 
Amevica  was  built  and  dedicated  on  John  street,  Xew  York. 
The  next  year  two  preachers  came  over  to  labor  in  this  coun- 


3 


try,  and  in  1771  t.wo  more,  one  of  whom  was  Francis  Asbiiry. 
I  These  were  all  faithful  men  of  God  and  the  work  under  their 
i  care  continued  steadily  to  advance  and  in  1773  there  Avas  10 
I  preachers  and  IJCJO  members  in  America.  After  the  Revolu- 
j  tionary  war  Mr.*  Wesley  saw  that  owing  to  the  difference  of 
feelings  and  interests  between  England  and  America,  it  would 
be  best  to  organize  a  separate  and  independent  society  in 
America.  Up  to  this  time,  the  American  Weslcyan  Methodists 
had  laid  no  claim  to  being  a  distinct  religious  organization. 
Like  VYeslej^  himself,  they  regarded  themselves  as  members  of 
the  English  Episcopal  Church,  ^ow  Weslc}^  was  onlj^  a  pres- 
byter in  the  Church  of  England,  and  according  to  that  Church 
unqualified  to  ordain,  but  Mr.  Wesley  and  some  other  presbyters 
entertained  the  opinion  that  in  the  ]n'imitive  church  a  presbyter 
and  a  bishop  were  one  and  the  same  order,  differing  only  in 
their  official  functions,  and  therefore  constituting  himself  bishop 
by  position,  with  the  assistance  of  ?)ther  presbyters,  he  set  apart 
and  ordained  the  Rev.  Thos.  Coke,  D.  C.  L.,  of  Oxford  Uuiver- 
sit}^,  bishop  of  the  infant  Church,  Sept.  2,  1784.  Eishop  Coke 
set  sail  for  America,  met  the  Baltimore  Conference  in  session, 
was  duly  recognized,  and  with  the  twenty-four  articles  brought 
from  England,  and  one  made  by  themselves,  the  Church  was 
organized  under  the  name  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
Since  then  Methodism  has  gone  nearly  all  over  the  world  and 
done  as  much  good  for  manl^ind  as  any  other  denomination 
sect  or  party.  There  are  now,  including  ministers  4,707,472 
members  of  the  great  Methodist  body.  Of  this  number  795,099 
members,  3,763  traveling  and  5,762  local  preachers  are  in  the 
M.  E.  Church,  South.  Still  the  work  goes  on  ;  Methodism  is 
advancing  steadily  every  year,  and  the  bearers  of  the  cross,  the 
followers  of  the  meek  and  lowly  Jesus  are  going  on  conquering 
and  to  conquer. 

Few  men  have  ever  lived  who  were  more  pious,  more  holy, 
God  fearing  and  untiring  in  the  service  ot  their  Master  than 
John  Wesley.    He  was  not  '^i  formalist.    It  was  from  this  that 
I  he  tore  himself  away.    Ke   savv  the  corruptions  that  had 
I  crept  into  the  Church  of  England  and  he  determined  to  start  a 
reformation  in  the  worship  of  Almighty  God.    He  preached 
pure  and  ^ital  godliness,  a  holy  lite,  and  entire  sanctitication. 
He  never  preached  that  the  Law-  was  made  void  through  faith, 
but  he  established  it  with  might  and  power.    He  preached  the 
"terrors  of  the  law"  with  all  the  force  of  a  Peter  and  the  logic 
of  a  Paul,  and  from  which  there  was  no  escape  except  through 
sincere  repentance  toward  God  and  faith  in  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ.    He  preached  that  repentance,  faith,  justification,  re- 
I  generation  and  sanctification  were  necessary  to  glorification. 
I  And  this  is  the  doctrine  that  his  followers  are  still  promulgat- 
';  ing — the  doctrine  taught  in  the  Word  of  God — the  doctrine 
I  taught  by  Jesus  Christ  and  the  apostles,  but  from  which  men 


.4 


are  so  prone  to  stray,  to  wander  away  in  their  own  vain  imagi- 
nations and  tlie  invention  of  their  own  minds.  This  is  the  doc- 
trine I  would  promulgate  and  for  which  I  send  forth  this  little 
manuel. 

Bear  the  tidings  round  the  ball, 

Visit  every  soil  and  sea  ; 
Preach  the  cross  of  Christ  to  all, 

Christ,  whose  love  is  full  and  free. 

 o:0:o  

II. 

Mi^m%m  m  mMmm. 

I.  There  is  but  one  living  and  true  G-od,  everlasting  without 
body  or  parts  ;  of  infinite  power,  wisdom,  and  goodness;  the 
maker  and  preserver  of  all  j;hiugs,  both  visible  and  invisible. 
And  in  unity  of  this  G-od-head,  there  are  three  persons  of  one 
substance,  power,  and  eternit}' — the  Father,  the  Son,  and  the 
Holy  Ghost. 

Yea,  there  is  but  one  Cod,  and  so  says  Isaiah  xlv.  21,  22, 
There  is  no  Cod  else  beside  me.  I  am  Cod  and  there  is  none 
else.  And  so  says  Deut.  vi,  41,  Hear,  O  Israel  !  the  Lord  our 
Cod  is  one  Lord,  He  is  without  body  or  parts  for  he  is  a  spirit 
and  so  St.  John  iv.  26,  declares  ;  Cod  is  a  spirit  and  they  that 
worship  him  must  worship  him  in  spirit  and  in  truth.  He  is 
everlastjng,  hath  no  beginning  or  ending.  Everything  around 
us,  above  us,  and  all  we  behold  had  a  beginning,  but  let  the  im- 
agination sweep  back  into  eternity,  and  then  whirl  upon  its 
wing  and  dart  forth  into  ages  and  centuries  yet  to  come,  and  at 
no  point  may  it  ever  say,  here  Cod  did  not  or  will  not  exist ;  for 
''He  always  was"  and  forever  shall  be.  The  Psalmist  xc.  2, 
says,  Before  the  mountains  w^ere  brought  forth,  or  ever  thou 
hadst  formed  the  earth  and  the  world,  even  from  everlasting"  to 
everlasting,  thou  art  Cod.  He  is  of  infinite  power.  He  has  all 
power  in  heaven  and  in  earth,  and  b}^  his  word  he  created  the 
heaven  and  the  earth.  He  is  Cod  Almighty.  And  Job  xxvi. 
14,  sas'S  :  The  thunder  of  his  power  who  can  understand?  He 
is  omniscient.  He  knows  all  things.  Paul  says  in  his  letter  to 
the  Hebrews  iv.  13,  Neither  is  there  any  creature  that  is  not 
manifest  in  his  sight;  but  all  things  are  naked  and  open  unto 
the  eyes  of  him  with  whom  we  have  to  do.  In  Chron.  xxviii. 
9,  it  saj's,  The  Lord  searcheth  all  hearts,  and  understandeth 
all  the  imagination  of  the  thoughts.  And  as  Cod  knows  all 
things  both  visible  and  invisible,  and  can  see  the  end  from  the 
beginning.  He  is  a  Cod  of  wisdom,  and  in  him  are  hid  all  the 
treasures  of  wisdom  and  knowledge."  In  all  the  works  of  na- 
ture around  us  and  the  heavens  above  us  there  is  evidence  of 
the  great  wisdom  of  Cod.  But  the  richest  and  noblest  display 
of  wisdom  is  seen  in  Cod's  wondrous  scheme  of  man's  redemp- 
tion ;  and  well  may  man  exclaim.  Unto  the  King,  eternal,  im- 


5 


mortal,  invisible,  the  only  wise  God,  bo  honor  and  glory  in  the 
church  by  Christ  Jesus,  throuodioat  all  ages,  world  without  end!  ! 

He  is  a  God  of  goodness,  of  infinite  mercy,  love,  forbearance  \ 
and  long  suffering,  and  '-not  willing  that  any  should  perish,  but  ; 
that  all  should  come  to  a  knowledge  of  the  truth."  lie  is  good, 
for  his  mercy  endureth  forever.  Ps.  cvi.  1,  God  is  love.  John 
iv.  8.  Ife  is  a  God  that  dwells  everywhere;  in  him  we  live  and 
move  and  have  our  i)eing,  Eph.  i.  23.  He  never  changes.  He 
is  the  same  yesterday,  to-day,  and  for  ever,  and  with  him  is  no 
variableness,  nor  shadow  ot  turning,  Ps. .cii.  27.  His  words 
shall  never  pass  awa}^  till  all  things  be  fulfilled.  He  'is  a  God  of 
holiness,  of  truth,  and  justice.  Job  xxv.  5,  says,  The  stars  arc  not 
pure  in  his  sight,  and  Isaiah  tells  us.  Holy,  holy,  holy  is  the 
Lord  of  hosts.  God  is  abundant  in  goodness  and  truth,  Ex. 
xxiv.  6;  and  the  truth  of  the  Lord  endureth  forever,  Ps.  cxvii. 
2,  God  cannot  lie.  The  justice  of  God  is  seen  in  all  his  dealings 
with  the  sons  of  men.  Justice  and  judgment  are  the  habita- 
tion of  thy  throne,  oh  God!  Is.  xlv.  21.  God  will  not  do  wick- 
edly, neither  will  the  Almighty  pervert  judgment.  Job  xxiv.  12. 

All  that  has  been  said  of  God  may  be  said  of  Christ,  for  God 
was  in  him  reconciling  the  world  unto  himself.  And  the  word 
— which  was  Christ — was  with  God,  and  the  word  was  God. 
He  is  called  the  "Lord  of  glory"  by  Paul  in  his  rirst  letter  to 
the  Corinthians  ii.  8.  and  he  said  himself,  "I  and  my  Father 
are  one."  He  is  called  by  Matthew-i.  23.  ^^God  with  us,"  by  Paul 
to  the  Eoraans  ix.  5.  "God  over  all."  by  him  to  Timothy  iii.  IG, 
"God  manifest  in  the  flesh,"  by  John  in  his  first  letter  v.  20, 
"the  true  God,"  by  Paul  again,  to  Titus  ii.  13,  "the  great  God," 
and  by  Isaiah  ix,  6,  "The  mighty  God."  Thus,  we  see  Christ  is 
God  and  3'et  he  was  man,  for  he  was  made  flesh  and  dwelt 
among  us.  He  had  a  body  fashioned  like  unto  ours,  and  was 
tempted  in  all  points  as  we,  and  finalh'  after  long  sufl'ering  died 
and  was  buried. 

All  that  has  been  said  of  God  may  also  be  said  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  tie  is  called  "the  Eternal  Spirit,"  by  St.  Paul  in  Heb.  ix)'  ; 
14,  and  is  said  to  know  "all  things"  in  Cor.  ii.  10;  To  have  "all 
power"  in 'Rom.  xv.  19.  and  to  dwell  "'every  where"  in  Ps.  cxx- 
xix.  7.  So,  we  see  the  Spirit  is  God.  John  declares,  "G.od  is  a 
Spirit." 

Thus,  we  see  Christ  is  God  and  the  Spirit  is  God.  "for  there 
are  three  that  bear  record  in  heaven,  the  Father,  the  Word,  and 
theiloly  Ghost,  and  these  three  are  one."  The  Father  is  God, 
tha  Son  is  God,  the  Holy  Spirit  is  God,  and  yet  there  is  but  one 
God — "these  three  are  one."  And  so  our  first  article  is  established 
by  the  word  of  God. 

II.  The  Son,  who  is  the  Word  of  the  Father,  the  very  and 
eternal  God,  of  one  substance  with  the  Father,  took  man's  nature 
in  the  womb  of  the  blessed  Virgin;  so  that  two  whole  and  per- 
fect natures — that  is  to  say,  the  Godhead  and  manhood — were 


j  joined  together  in  one  person,  never  to  be  divided,  whereof  is 
one  Christ,  very  God  and  very  man,  who  truly  suffered,  was  cru- 
citied,  dead  and  buried,  to  reconcile  his  Father  to  U8,  aad  to  be 
a  sacrifice,  not  only  for  original  guilt,  but  also  for  actual  sins  of 

j  men. 

III.  Christ  did  trul}^  rise  again  from  the  dead,  and  took  again 
his  bod}^  with  all  things  appertaining  to  the  perfection  of  man's 
nature,  wherewith  he  ascended  into  heaven,  and  there  sitteth 
until  he  return  to  judge  all  men  at  the  last  day. 

IV.  The  Holy  Ghost,  proceeding  from  the  Father  and  the  Son, 
is  of  one  substance,  majesty,  and  glory,  with  the  Father  and 
the  Son,  very  and  eternal  God. 

The  second,  third  and  fourth  articles  need  no  comment. 
The}'  arc  too  plain  to  be  denied,  by  any  one  who  reads  the 
Scriptures  with  care  and  a  sincere  desire  to  flee  the  wrath  to 
come  and  be  saved  from  his  sins.  These  articles  are  proved  in 
part  by  the  establishment  of  the  first. 

Y.  The  Jioly  Scriptures  contain  all  things  necessary  to  Sal- 
vation; so  that  whatsoever  is  not  read  therein,  nor  may  be 
proved  thereby,  is  not  to  be  required  of  any  man,  that  it  should 
be  believed  as  an  article  of  faith,  or  be  thought  requisite  or  nec- 
essary to  salvation.  In  the  name  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  we  do 
understand  those  canonical  books  of  the  Old  and  New  Testa- 
ment, of  whose  authority  was  never  any  douot  in  the  Church. 

I  THE  NAMES  OF  THE  CANONICAL  BOOKS. 

j  Genesis,  Exodus,  Leviticus,  Numbers,  Deuteronomy,  Joshua, 
Judges,  Ruth,  The  First  Book  of  Samuel,  The  Second  Book  of 
Samuel,  The  First  Book  of  Kings,  The  Second  Book  of  Kings 
The  First  Book  of  Chrofiicles,  The  Second  Book  of  Chronicles, 
The  Book  of  Ezra,  The  Book  of  Nehemiah,  The  Book  of  Esther, 
The  Book  ot  Job,  The  Psalms,  The  Proverbs,  Ecclesiastes,  or 
the  Preacher,  Cantica,  or  Songs  of  Solomon,  Four  Prophets  the 
i  greater.  Twelve  P^-opbets  the  less.  All  the  books  of  the  New  , 
j  Testament,  as  they  are  commonly  received,  we  do  receive  and  \ 
account  canonical.  "  j 

YI.    The  Old  Testament  is  not  contrary  to  the  New;  for  both  i 
in  the  Old  and  New  Testament  everlasting  life  is  offered  to 
mankind  b}^  Christ,  who  is  the  only  Mediator  between  God  and 
man,  being  God  and  man.    Wherefore  they  are  not  to  be  beard 
who  feign  that  the  old  fathers  did  look  only -for  transitory"  j 
promises.    Although  the  law  given  from  God  by  Moses,  as  toiSh-  i 
ing  ceremonies  and  rites,  doth  not  bind  Christians,  nor  ought  the  j 
civil  precepts  thereof  of  necessity  to  be  received  in  any  Com- 
monwealth,'yet,  notwithstanding,  no  Christian  whatsoever  is 
free  from  the  obedience  of  the  commandments  which  are  called 
moral. 

The  fifth  and  sixth  articles  need  no  comment.  They  are  fully 
sot  forth  in  the  writings  of  all  Protestants. 


7  I 

I     YII.    Original  Sin  standetb  not  in  the  following  of  Adam  (as  | 
I  the  Pelagians  do  vainly  talk),  but  is  the  corruption  of  the  nature  | 
'  of  every  man.  that  naturally  is  etigendered  of  the  offspring  of 
I  Adam/whereby  man  is  very  far  gone  from  original  righteous-  ] 
j  ness,  and  of  bis  own  nature  inclined  to  evil,  and  that  continual!}'. 

I     Man  is  one  of  the  chief  works  of  God.    The  world  was  made  • 
' /or  man.    Man  made  but  a  little  lower  than  the  angels,  was 
'  made /or  the  glory  of  God.    lie  was  created  in  the  image  of 
;  God,  and  after  his  likeness.    His  body  "was  formed  of  the  dust 
!  of  the  ground,"  but  when  God  ''breathed  into  his  nostrils  the 
breath  of  life,  man  became  a  living  sow^."    As  man  was  made  in 
the  image  of  God,  and  God  was  a  Spirit,  we  naturally  infer 
that  the  soul,  the  Spirit  of  man,  was  made  in  the  image  of  God. 
And  so,  God  is  called  the ''Father  of  Spirits,"  and  we  the  "off- 
spring of  God."    So  then,  the  body — after  the  fashion  of  beasts — 
I  is  "tornit?a  oi  the  dust  of  the  ground,"  but  the  soul — made  in  the 
!  image  of  God — consists  in  "righteousness  and  true  holiness," 
bearing  the  impress  of  God's  own  immortality.    Being  thus 
I  made,  surrounded  with  all  the  goodness  of  Go  l,  man  was  neccs- 
'  sarily  happy.    But  man  fell,  man  lost  bis  fii'st  state  of  happi- 
iiess — bis  primeval  bliss.    Why?  Man  as  a  free  agent,  a  proba- 
tioner from  time  to  eternity  ate  of  the  forbidden  fruit,  he  ds^so- 
beyed  God's  holy  commandment  and  thus  received  the  curse 
upon  him,  "For  in  the  day  that  thou  eatest  thereof,  thou  sbalt 
surely  die."  Man  died.    Died  to  God.    Died  a  Spiritual  death, 
and  subject  to  Eternal  death.  [Temporal  death  is  a  natural  con-  | 
sequence  of  sin,  and  needs  no  proof]  "For  through  Adam  sin  | 
I  entered  into  the  world,  and  death  by  sin;  and  so  death  passed 
upon  all  men,  in  whom  all  have  sinned."    We  are  the  desceaid- 
!  ants  of  Adam,  and  as  Adam  was  so  are  we.    His  nature  was  | 
I  corrupt  and  so  is  ours.    He  was  dead  to.  God,  and  so  are  we.  | 
!  '-Behold,  (we  are)  shapen  in'  iniquijty;  and  in  sin  did  (our  moth-  | 
ers)  conceive  (us,")  and  we  are  prone  to  evil  continually.    In  ! 
this  state  are  all  human  beings  born  into  the  world;  arid  their  ! 
sinful  dis))ositions  lead  them  to  sinful  practices;   so  that  the  ' 
whole  human  race  are  fallen,  and  are  sinners  against  God  and 
their  own  souls.  Ps.  xiv.  3. 

YIII.    The  condition  of  man  after  the  fall  of  Adam  is  such, 
1  that  he  cannot  turn  and  prepare  himself  by  his  own  natural 
strength  and  works,  to  faith,  and  calling  upon  God;  wherefore 
wc*have  no  power  to  do  good  works,  pleasant  and  acceptable  to 
God,  without  the  grace  of  God  by  Christ  preventing  us,  that  we 
I  miiy  have  a  good  wilK  and  working  with  us,  when  we  have  that 
'  good  will. 

This  article  is  not  intended  to  establish  the  fact  that  man  is  a 
free  agent,  but  merely  to  confute  the  idea  that  some  people  have : 
'  That  we  may  turn  from  our  sins  and  prepare  ourselves,  by  our 
j  own  natural  strength  and  works,  to  faith,  and  calling  upon  God. 


8 


IX.  We  arc  accounted  righteous  before  God,  ^"ly.  ^^^^ 
merit  of  our  Lord  and  Savior  Jesus  Christ,  by  faith,  and  not  for 
our  own  works  or  deservings:  wherefore,  that  we  are  justified 
by  faith  only,  is  a  most  wholesome  doctrine,  and  very  full  of 
comfort. 

We  ai'e  accounted  righteous  before  God  only  for  the  merit  of 
our  Lord  and  Savior  J  csus  Christ,  by  faith.    God  has  declared 
in  his  "Word  that  there  is  and  can  be  no  salvation  but  through 
Jesus  Christ:  but  for  the  sake,  and  on  the  account,  of  his  sacri- 
ficial sufferings  and  death,  he  can  forgive  sins.    Hence,  God  has 
commanded  all  who  hear  the  gospel  to  believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ-  to  believe  on  him  as  having  died  for  them,  and  to  believe 
that  his  sufferings  and  death  are  a  sufficient  sacrifice  for  their 
sins,  and  to  offer  this  as  a  ransom  for  their  souls.    Mark,  xyi, 
16.    But  those  who  do  not  feel  that  they  are  sinners  before  God. 
and  condemned  already,  will  see  no  need  of  a  sacrifice,  and  so 
God  hath  sent  forth  his  ministers  to  proclaim  the  "terrors  of 
the  law"  and  his  Spirit  to  enable  men  to  see  their  condition,  re- 
pent of  their  evil  vrays,  and  flee  the  wrath  of  an  avenging  God. 
But  they  can  flee  the  wrath  of  God  only  through  faith  in  the 
Son  of  God,  and  hence  man  seeing  that  all  his  works  are  vain, 
turns  to  God  in  faith  and  is  saved.     Thus,  man  is  justified  by 
faith  alone.    And  whoever  with  a  broken  ^and  contrite  heart, 
-believing  and  trusting  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  alone  for  salva- 
tion, God  never  i'ails  to  pardon,  to  take  away  his  guilt  and  to  let 
the  light  of  his  countenance  beam  upon  him  gloriously  reconcil- 
ed.   Theii  he  knows  he  is  pardoned.    He  knows  his  darkness  is 
all  gone.    He  knows  that  all  his  distress  is  taken  away,  and  he 
i  feels  that  God  is  no  longer  looking  upon  him  in  wrath,  no  longer 
ready  to  send  him  to  the  dark  abodes  of  the  doomed  and  damned; 
but  he  feels  that  "the  Spirit  of  God  bears  witness  with  his  that 
he  is  a  child  of  God.    Eom.  viii.  15,  16;  Gal,  iv.  4-6.     He  feels 
that  he  is  a  new  creature  in  Christ  Jesus  2  Cor.  v.  17, — that  be 
is  born  again  St.  John  iii.  3,  that  he  is  now  a  Son  of  God  and  joint 
heir  with  Jesus  Chi'ist.    Eom.  viii.  17.    He  feels  that  though  he 
was  on  the  verge  of  hell  and  about  to  fall  in  its  yawning  depths, 
though  he  was  an  outcast,  a  prodigal  and  a  beggar,  woi^  his  feet 
stand  in  the  gateway  to  heaven  and  he  possesses  the  riches  of  the 
Sons  of  God."  What  joy  !  What  happiness  is  this  to  a  new  born 
soul;    Can  we  be  surprised  then  when  we  hear  the  shouts  of 
praises  and  hallelujahs  that  rise  from  hearts  of  love  and  grati- 
I  tude  to   God?    Surely  not.    So  then,  "to  him  that  worketh'not 
but  believeth  on  him  that  justifieth  the  ungodly,  his  faith  is 
counted  to  him  for  righteousness,  and  beifig  justified  by  faith  ho 
has  peace  with  God  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 

X.  Although  good  works,  which  are  the  fruits  of  faith,  and 
follow  after  justification,  cannot  put  away  our  sins,  and  endure 
the  severity  of  God's  judgement ;  yet, are  they  pleasing  and  ac- 
ceptable to  God  in  Christ,  and  spring  out  of  a  true  and  lively 


9 


Jiiith,  insomuch  that  by  them  a  lively  faith  may  bo  as  evidently 
known  as  a  tree  is  discerned  by  its  fruit. 

Every  child  of  God  must  love  the  Lord  with  all  his  soul,  minol 
and  strength.    Indeed,  he  must  "dwell  in  love;"  and  '^he  that 
j  dwelleth  in  love,  dwelleth  in  Gm\  and  God  in  him."  But  "this  is 
I  the  love  of  God  that  we  keep  his  commandments."  To  keep  the 
I  commandments  is  the  best  evidence  thiit  we  do  love  him.  And 
so,  good  work  8  of  a  consequence,  follows  after  justification.  We 
know  that  Christ  did  "niany  mighty  works,"  many  good  deeds, 
the  blind  received  their  sight,  and  the  lame  walked,  the  lepers 
'    were  cleansed,  and  the  deaf  made  to  hear,  the  dead  were  raised 
up,  and  the  poor  had  the  gospel  preached  to  them;  that  he  went 
abo-ut  doing  good  every  where.    And  ''hereby  know  we  that  we 
dwell  in  him,  and  he  in  us,  because  he  hath  given  us  of  his  I 
Spirit;"  and  "if  we  have  not  the  Spirit  of  God  we  are  none  of  | 
his."    A  tree  is  known  by  its  fruit,  and  every  good  tree  bringoth  | 
forth  good  fruit.    If  there  be  no  fruit — no  good  works — it  is  ' 
very  evident  we  are  not  "justified  by  faith  ;"  for  "faith  without  | 
works  is  dead."    So  then,  we  see'that  good  works  are  "pleasing  j 
and  acceptable  to  God  in  Christ,  and  spring  out  of  a  true  and 
lively  faith,"  but  they  ''cannot  put  away  our  sins,  and  endure  the 
severity  of  God's  judgment." 

XI.  Voluntary  works,  besides  over  and  above  God's  com- 
mandments, which  are  called  works  of  supererogation,  cannot 

I  be  taught  without  arrogancy  and  impiety.    For  by  them  men 
do  declare  that  they  do  not  only  render  unto  God  as  much  as 
they  are  bound  lo  do,  but  that  they  do  more  for  him  than  of 
bounden  duty  is  required.    Whereas  Christ  saith  plainly,  when 
ye  have  done  all  that  is  commanded  you,  say,  We  are  unprotii- 
able  servants.  i 
This  article  is  opposed  to  the  Eoman  Catholic  Church,  which  | 
teaches  that  persons  can  do  more  for  Christ  than  is  their  | 
ijounden  duty. 

XII.  l^ot  every  sin  willingly  committed  after  justification  is 
the  sin  against  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  unpardonable.  Wherefore, 

1  the  grant  of  repentance  is  not  to  be  denied  to  such  as  fall  into 
sin  after  justification  ;  after  we  have  received  tho  Holy  Ghost,  i 
we  may  depart  from  grace  given,  and  fall  into  sin,  and,  by  the  • 
grace  of  G'od  rise  again  and  amend  our  lives.    And,  thercforo.  ; 
they  are  to  be  condemned  who  say  they  can  no  more  sin  as  \(>\\_: 
as  they  live  here,  or  deny  the  place  of  repentance  to  such  a.s 
truly  repent. 

Perhaps  there  is  not  an  article  of  our  fai^h  more  opposed  by  a 
I  certain  class  of  Christians  than  this,  yet  nothing  is  more  clearly 
defined  or  abundantly  established.  Says  St.  John  in  his  tirs^t 
Epistle  V.  16,  17.  If  any  man  see  his  brother  sin  a  sin  which  is 
not  unto  death,  he  shall  ask,  and  He  shall  give  him  life  for  them 
that  sin  not  unto  death.  All  unrighteousness  is  sin  :  and  there  i 
is  a  sin  not  unto  death  ;"  and  also  ii.  1,  2,  "My  little  childi-ci.  ; 


10 

these  things  write  I  unto  you,  thfit  ye  sin  not.    And  if  any  man 
sin  we  have  an  Advocate  with  the  Father,  Jesus  Christ,  the 
righteous  :    And  he  is  the  propitiation  for  our  sins  :  and  not  for  | 
ours  only,  but  also  for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world."    The  j 
scriptures  are  everywhere  int#i'larded  with  calls  to  prodigal  | 
eons  and  backsliding  daughters.    The  sin  against  the  Holy 
Ghost  is  the  only  sin  that  the  Lord  will  not  pardon,  and  accord-- 
ing  to  Mr.  Wesley  and  Dr.  Watson  no  one  at  this  da}'  and  in 
this  generation,  or  ever  since  the  days  ol  miracles,  has  ever 
committed.    If  so,  no  one  need  ever  become  discouraged,  or 
sink  in  despair.    [There  are  many  at  this  day  who  differ  with  Mr. 
W^esley  and  Dr.  Watson — contending  that  a  person  can  sin  | 
against  the  Holy  Ghost  now.    But  the  diflFerence  really  is -not  j 
whether  we  can  or  cannot  sin  against  the  Holy  Ghost,  but  the 
belief  as  to  what  the  sin  against  the  Holy  Ghost  is.]    If  he 
will  repent  of  his  sins  God  is  faithful  and  just  to  forgive  him.  | 
The  scriptures  abound  with  admonitions  against  falling  into  sin  j 
after  justification,  and  even  of  becoming  apostates  and  finally  | 
losing  our  souls  in  hell.    See  Gal.  v.  1  ;  1  Cor.  ix.  27  ;  2  Peter  ii.  j 
18,  10;  Mark  xiv.  38;  xiii.  37.    They  tell  us  of  certain  angels  | 
that  fell,  St.  John  viii.  44;  Jude  vi:  2  Peter  ii.  4.    They  telf  us 
th-at  Adam  and  Eve.  who  were  pure  and  holy,  sinned  and  fell. 
Gen.  i.  27,  31  ;  iii.  6-10  ;  Ecc'L  vii.  29.    They  tell  us  that  Solo- 
mon who  was  wise  above  all  men  allowed  his  wives  to  turn 
away  bis  heart  from  God.  They  tell  us  that  Judas,   one   of  I 
the   twelve  to  whom  it  was  said,  ye  shall  sit  upon  twelve 
thrones  judging  the  twelve  tribes  of  Israel  sinned,  and  another 
was  chosen  to  lake  part  in  the  ministry  from  which  Judas 
by  transgression  fell;  they  tell  us  that  Hymenias  and  Alexander 
made  shi])wreck  of  the  faith,  and  were  delivered  unto  Satan,  i 

Yes,  men  have  sinned  after  justification — men  have  fallen  j 
from  that  u'race  <^iven — fallen  from  the  favor  of  God  and  made  I 
shipwreck  of  the  faith,  and  it  highly  becomes  us  to  watch;  to  j 
watch  and  pray;  and  let  him  that  thinketh  he  standeth  take  j 
heed  lest  he  iall.  j 

The  Israelites  were  all  baptized  unto  Moses  in  the  cloud  and 
in  the  sea,  yet  they  fell — fell  time  and  again,  and  many  were 
uterly  destroyed,  and  so  it  will  be  with  every  Christian  unless 
he  watches,  he  prays,  and  stands  fast,  having  on  .  the  whole 
armor  of  God.  Baptism  can  save  no  one — it's  faith  in  God. 
So,  let  us  harness  up  in  the  armor  of  God  and  stand,  and  having 
done  all,  to  stand. 

XIII.  The  visibly  Church  of  Christ  is  a  congregation  of 
faithful  men,  in  which  the  pure  word  of  God  is  preached,  and 
the  sacraments  duly  administered,  according  to  Christ's  ordi- 
nance, in  all  those  things  that  of  necessity  are  requisite  to  the 
same. 

To  this  article  no  doubt  the  Eoman  Catholics  and  the  Episco- 
palians would  object.    But  this  is  the  Church  of  Christ  as  cs- 


11 


tablished  by  the  word  of  God — a  congregation  of  faithful  men —  , 
men  who  have  faith  in  God,  and  being  justified  by  faith  have 
peace  with  God  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  It  consists  of 
those  who  are  vitally  united  to  Christ,  as  the  members  to  the 
head,  and  who,  being  thus  imbued  with  spiritual  life,  walk  no 
longer --after  the  flesh  but  after  the  spirit;"  men  w^ho  "follow 
after  charity  and  desire  spiritual  gifts,"  leaving  the  principles 
of  the  doctrine  of  Christ,  go  on  unto  perfection  ;  "forgetting 
those  things  Vvhich  are  behind,  and  reaching  forth  unto  those 
things  which  are  before,"  pressing  toward  the  mark  for  the 
prize  of  their  high  calling  in  Christ  Jesus  ;  men  who  are  wiiling 
to  suffer  all  things  for  Christ,  nor  ever  grow  weary  in  well- 
doing, going  forth,  following  in  the  footsteps  of  their  blessed 
Master.  In  this  congregation  the  "pure  word  of  God"  is  to  be 
"preached  "  and  the  --sacraments  duly  administered  according 
to  Christ's  ordinance."  This  is  a  Church,  let  others  say  as  they 
may.    Kead  the  scriptures  and  see  ! 

XIY.  The  Eomish  doctrine  concerning  purgator^^,  pardons, 
worshiping  and  adoration,  as  well  of  images  as  of  relics,  and 
also  invocation  of  saints,  is  a  fond  thing,  vainly  invented,  and 
grounded  upon  no  warrant  of  scripture,  but  repugnant  to  the 
word  of  God. 

XV.  It  is  a  thing  plainly  repugnant  to  the  word  of  God,  and 
the  custom  of  the  Primitive  Church,  to  have  public  prayer  in 
the  church,  or  to  minister  the  sacraments,  in  a  tongue  not 
understood  by  the  people. 

XVI.  Sacraments,  ordained  of  Christ,  are  not  only  badges 
or  tokens  of  Christian  men's  profession,  but  rather  they  are 
certain  signs  of  grace,  and  God  s  good-will  toward  us,  by  the 
which  he  doth  work  invisibly  in  us,  and  doth  not  only  quicken, 
but  also  strengthen  and  confirm  our  faith  in  him. 

Those  five,  con>raonly  called  sacraments — that  is  to  say,  Con- 
I  firmation.  Penance,  Orders,  Matrinionj'  and  Extreme  Unction — 
I  are  not  to  be  counted  for  sacraments  of  the  gospel,  being  such 
j  as  have  partly  grown  out  of  the  corrupt  following  of  the  Apos-, 
i  ties,  and  partly  are  states  of  life  allowed  in  the  scriptures,  bu? 
I  yet  have  not  the  like  nature  of  Baptism  and  the  Lord's  Supper, 

because  they  have  not  any  visible  siam  or  ceremony  ordained  of 

God. 

The  sacraments  were  not  ordained  of  Christ  to  be  gazed  upon 
or  to  be  carried  about ;  but  that  we  should  duly  use  them.  And 
in  suchvonly  as  worthih'  receive  the  same,  they  have  a  whole- 
some effect  or  operation  ;  but  they  that  receive  them  unworthily 
purchase  to  themselves  condemnation,  as  St.  Paul  saith  1  Cor. 
xi.  29. 

These  three  articles — XIV,  X  V,  and  XVI, — need  no  remarks — 
they  fully  explain  themselves. 

XVIL  Baptism  is  not  only  a  sign  of  profession,  and  mark  of 
difference — ,  wherebj*  Christians  are  distinguished  from  others 


12 


that  are  not  baptized,  but'  it  is  also  a  sign  of  reo^eneration,  or 
the  new  birth.    The  baptism  of  young  children  is^to  be  retained 
I  in  the  Church. 

In  this  article  we  see  only  the  nature  of  baptism  set  forth., 
There  is  no  reference  whatever  to  the  mode.  This  is  the  Bible 
plan,  the  manner  of  the  apostles  themselves  and  the  doctrine  of 
the  New  Testament.  Ever}^  person  is  left  to  choose  for  them- 
selves the  mode  of  baptism,  whether  sprinklingt  pouring  or 
emersion — every  person  is  allowed  to  be  "fully  persuaded  in  his 
own  mind." 

The  institution  of  Christian  baptism  was  established  in  the 
great  commission  to  the  apostles  Math,  xxviii.  19,  20.  Here  is 
the  divine  origin  of  baptism  as  a  standing,  obligatory  and  per- 
petual ordinance  of  the  Christian  Church.  There  was  baptism 
before,  but  it  was  not  Christian  baptism.  The  prerequisite  to 
John's  baptism  was  repentance,  but  in  Christian  baptism 
there  is  a  prerequisite  of  both  repentance  and  faith ;  and 
that  faith  a  justifying  faith.  Acts  vqii.  37.  To  this  you  will 
find  man}^  to  object  but  to  all  snch  simply  say  that  j^ou 
prefer  the  apostle's  example.  [For  the  benefit  of  those 
who  may  desire  to  search  the  scriptures  in  reference  to  the 
mode  of  baptism  I  give  the  following  references :  1  Cor.  x.  12  ; 
Mat.  iii.  11 ;  Acts  xi.  15,  16  ;  viii.  36-39 ;  ix.  18  ;  x.  44-48 ;  xvi ; 
Eom.  vi.  3-8;  Col.  ii.  11,  12.] 

Infant  baptism  is  to  be  retained  in  the  Methodist  Church, 
and  every  member  of  the  Methodist  Church  should  have  their 
children  baptized  as  early  as  practicable.  The  baptism  of  chil- 
dren has  been  in  the  Church  as  far  back  as  the  history  of  the 
Church  can  be  obtained.  And  though  we  find  no  direct  precept 
in  the  Bible  to  bapti^se  children  no  where  can  we  find  that 
Christ  ever  changed  the  covenant  relationship  between  parents 
and  their  children,  and  as  they  were  not  excluded  from  the  ^ 
blessings  of  their  fathers  in  the  .Vbrahamic  covenant  between  j 
G-od  and  Abraham,  we  conclude  from  many,  direct  inferences  ! 
that  they  are  not  excluded  in  the  covenant  established  by 
Christ.  Christ  said,  "Suffer  the  little  children  to  come  unto  me 
and  forbid  them  not,"  and  Peter  said,  "the  promise  is  unto  you 
and  to  your  children" — just  the  same  as  the  promise  was  unto 
Abraham  and  his  children.  John,  the  Baptist,  said.  Behold  the 
Lamb  of  Cod  which  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the  worlI^. 
John,  the  divine,  said.  He  is  the  propitiation  for  our  sins:  and 
not  for  our's  only,  but  also  for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world. 
He  is  also  called  the  Savior  of  the  world.  In  the  wisdom  ot 
God  it  was  determined,  "that  he  by  the  grace  of  G-od  should 
taste  death  for  every  man.  We  know  that  Christ  died  for 
original  sin,  and  if  so,  as  infants  can  be  guilty  before  God  only 
for  original  sin,  they  are  free  hy  the  atonement  of  Christ  and 
heirs,  joint  heirs  with  Jesus  Christ,  and  fit  subjects  tor  eternal 
glory.    Therefore  it  is  the  duty  of  all  parents  to  bring  up  their 


13 


chWdron  in  the  nurture  and  admonition  oi  the  Lord;  To  train 
them  in  the  way  they  should  go  ;  to  lead  them  in  the  way  of 
life  that  they  may  remember  their  Creator  in  the  days  of  their 
youth,  while  the"  evil  days  come  not  and  years  draw  nigh 
when  they  will  have  no  pleasure  in  them. 

XYIII.  The  Supper  of  the  Lord  is  not  only  a  sign  of  the 
love  that  Christians  ought  to  have  among  thereiselves  one  to 
another,  but  rather  is  a  sacrament  of  our  redemption  by  Christ's 
death  :  insomuch  that  to  such  as  rightly,  worthily,  and  with 
faith,  receive  the  same,  the  bread  which  we  break  is  a  partaking 
of  the  body'  of  Christ;  and  likewise  the  cup  of  blessing  is  a 
partaking  of  the  blood  of  Christ. 

Trausubstantiation,  or  the  change  of  the  substance  of  bread 
and  wine  in  the  Supper  of  the  Lord,  cannot  be  proved  by  Holy 
Writ,  but  is  repugnant  to  the  plain  words  of  scripture,  over- 
throweth  the  nature  of  a  sacrament,  and  hath  given  occasion  to 
many  superstitions. 

The  body  of  Christ  is  given,  taken,  and  eaten,  in  the  Supper, 
only  after  a  heavenly  and  spiritual  manner.  And  the  means 
whereby  the  body  of  Christ  is  received  and  eaten,  in  the  Sup- 
per, is  faith. 

The  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  was  not  by  Christ's  ordi- 
nance reserved,  carried  about,  lifted  up.  or  worshiped. 

As  Baptism  was  substituted  in  the  Church  for  circumcision,, 
so  the  Lord's  Supper  was  put  by  our  Savior  in  the  place  of  the 
passover.  These  sacraments  diifer,  only,  in  that  Baptism  is  to 
be  administered  but  once  with  water — and  that  even  to  the  in- 
fants of  all  believing  parents  ;  whereas  the  Lord's  Supper  is  to 
be  administered  often,  in  the  elements  of  bread  and  wine,  to 
represent  and  exhibit  Christ  as  Spiritual  nourishment  to  the 
soul,  and  to  confirm  our  continuance  and  growth  in  him — and 
that  onlj'  to  such  as  are  of  years  and  ability  to  examine  them- 
selves. As  Baptism  is  a  sign  of  separation,  so  the  Lord's  Supper 
is  a  sign  of  Christian  love  and  fellowship.  As  baptism  is  a  sign 
of  regeneration  and  the  new  birth,  so  is  the  Lord's  Supper  a 
'i  sio-n  of  our  redemption  by  Christ's  death.  1  Cor.  v,  7,  8  ;  xi. 
2.3,  6  ;  Mark  xiv.  22-24. 

XIX.  The  cup  of  the  Lord  is  not  to  be  denied  to  the  lay 
people  :  for  both  the  parts  of  the  Lord's  Supper  by  Christ's  or- 
dinance and  commandment,  ought  to  be  administered  to  all 
Christians  alike. 

^X.  The  offering  of  Christ,  once  made,  is  that  perfect  re- 
demption, propitiation,  and  satisfaction,  for  all  the  sins  of  the 
I  whole  world,  both  original  and  actual ;  and  there  is  none  other 
'  satisfaction  for  sin  but  that  alone.  Wherefore  the  sacrafice  of 
masses,  in  which  it  is  commonly  said  the  priest  doth  offer  Christ 
ior  the  qujck  and  the  dead,  to  have  remission  of  pain  or  guilt, 
is  a  blasphemous  fable  and  dangerous  deceit. 


14 


XXI.  The  ministers  of  Christ  are  not  commanded  by  God's 
law  either  to  vow  the  estate  of  single  life,  or  to  abstain  from 
marriage,  therefore  it  is  lawful  for  them,  as  for  all  other  Christ- 
ians, to  marry  at  their  own  discretion,  as  they  shall  judge  the 
same  to  serve  best  to  godliness. 

XXII.  It  is  not  necessary  that  rites  and  ceremonies  should 
in  ail  places  be  the  same,  or  exactly  alike;  for  they  have  been 
always  different,  and  may  be  changed  according  to  the  diversi- 
ty of  countries,  times,  and  men's  m.anners,  so  that  nothing  be 
ordained  against  God's  word.  Whosoever,  through  his  private 
judgment,  willingly  and  purposely,  doth  openly  break  the  rites 
and  ceremonies  of  the  Church  to  which  he  belongs^  which  are 
not  repugnant  to  the  word  of  God,  and  are  ordained  and  apr 
proved  hy  common  authority,  ought  to  be  rebuked  openly,  that 
others  may  fear  to  do  the  like,  as  one  that  offendeth  against  the 
common  order  of  the  Church,  and  woundeth  the  consciences  of 
weak  brethren. 

Every  particular  Church  may  ordain,  change,  or  abolish  rites 
and  ceremonies,  so  that  all  things  may  t>e  done  to  edification. 

XXIII.  The  president,  the  congress,  the  general  assemblies, 
the  governors,  and  the  councils  of  state,  as  the  delegates  of  the 
people,  are  the  rulers  of  the  United  States  of  America,  according 
to  the  division  of  power  made  to  them  by  the  constitution  of 
the  United  States,  and  by  the  constitution  of  the  respective 
States.  And  the  said  States  are  a  sovereign  and  independent 
nation,  and  ought  not  to  be  subject  to  any  foreign  jurisdiction. 

XXIY.    The  riches  and  goods  of  Christians  are  not  common, 
as  touching  the  ria'ht,  title,  and  possession  of  the  same,  as  some 
do  falsely  boast.    Xotwithstanding  every  man  ought,  of  such 
things  as  he  possesseth,  liberally  to  give  alms  to  the  poor  ac-  ■ 
cording  to  his  ability.  i 

XXY.    As  we  confess  vain  and  rash  swearing  is  forbidden  i 
Christian  men  by  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  and  James,  hisa}X)stle,  j 
so  we  judge  that  the  Christian  religion  doth  not  prohibit,  but  I 
that  a  man  may  swear  when  the  magistrate  requireth,  in  a 
cause  of  faith  and  charity,  so  it  be  done  according  to  the 
prophet's  teaching,  in  justice,  judgment,  and  truth. 

 o.O:o  

XII.  - 

There  is  onl}'  one  condition  previously  required  of  those  who 
desire  admission  into  these  societies,  a ''desire  to  flee  from  the 
wrath  to  come,  and  to  be  saved  from  their  sins."    But  wher-  | 
ever  this  is  really  lixed  in  the  soul,  it  will  be  shown  by  its  fruits.  | 
It  is  therefore  expected  of  all  w'ho  continue  therein,  -  that  they  | 
should  continue  to  evidence  their  desire  of  salvation. —  | 


15 


First,  bv  doing  no  barm, — Be  ye  barmless  as  doves.  Mat. 
X,  16. 

By  avoiding  evil  of  ever}'  kind, — Abstain  from  all  appearance 
of  evil.    1  Tbess.  v.  22. 

Espeoially  that  which  is  most  generally  practiced  ;  such  as, — 
The  taking  of  the  name  of  God  in  vain — Thou  shalt  not  take 
the  name  of  the  Lord  thy  God  in  vain.    Ex.  xx.  ?. 

The  profaning  the  day  of  the  Lord,  either  b}^  doing  ordinary 
work  therein  or  by  buj'ing  or  selling — Eemember  the  vSabbath 
da}",  to  keep  it  holy.    Ex.  xx.  8. 

Drunkenness,  or  drinking  spirituous  liquors  unless  in  cases  of 
necessity. — Be  not  deceived  :  Neither  Ibrnieators,  *  *  *  nor 
drunkards,  *  *  *  shall  inherit  the  kingdom  of  God.  1  Cor.  vi,  10. 

It  is  good  neither  to  eat  flesh,  nor  to  drink  wine,  nor  amy  thing 
whereby  thy  brother  stumbieth,  oris  oifended,  or  is  made  weak. 
Rom.  xiv.  21. 

Wesley  thus  speaks  '-of  the  character  and  work  of  the 
traffickers  in  s])irituoas  liquors  :  "They  are  poisoners  getierally; 
the}' murder  mankind  by  wholesale ;  they  drive  them  to  hell 
like  sheep.  A  curse  is  in  the  midst  of  their  dwellings;  the 
curse  of  God  cleaves  to  the  stones,  the  timber,  the  furniture  of 
.them;  the  curse  of  God  is  in  their  gardens,  their  walks,  their 
groves,  a  fire  that  burns  to  the  nethermost  helT;  blood,  blood,  is 
there;  the  foundation,  the  floor,  the  walls,  the  roof,  are  stained 
with  blood." 

Fighting,  quarreling,  brawling;  brother  going  to  law  with 
brother. — Be  ye  kind  one  to  another.    Eph.  iv,  32. 

Eeturning  evil  for  evil,  or  railing  for  railing. — Recompense 
to  no  man  evil  for  evil..  Kom.  xii,  17. 

The  using  many  words  in  buying  or  selling. — It  is  naught, 
it  is  naught,  saith  the  buyer:  but  when  he  is  gone  his  way, 
then  he  boasteth.    Prov.  xx,  14. 

The  buying  or  selling  goods  that  have  not  paid  the  duty.  The 
giving  or  takirig  things  on  usury,  that  is,  unlawful  interest. — Pro- 
vide things  honest  in  the  sight  of  all  men.    Eom.  xii,  17. 

Uncharitable  or  unprofitable  conversation ;  particularly  speak- 
ing evil  of  magistrates  or  of  ministers. — ^Presumptions  are  they, 
self-willed  ;  they  are  not  afraid  to  speak  evil  of  dignities.  2d 
Peter  ii,  10. 

Doing  to  others  as  we  would  not  they  should  do  unto  us; — 
Whatsoever  ye  would  that  men  should  do  to  you,  do  3^e  even 
so  to  them.    Mat.  vii,.  12. 

Doing  what  we  know  is  not  for  the  glory  of  God;  as, —  The 
jmtting  on  of  gold  and  costley  apparel    I  will  that  women 

adorn  themselves  in  modest  apparel  *  *  ;  not  with  braided 
hair,  or  gold  or  pearls  or  costly  arra}- ;  but,   *  with  good 

works.    1  T4m.  ii,  8-10. 

The  taking  such  diversioiis  as  cannot  be  used  in  the  name  of 


16 


the  Lord  Jesus.  Whether  therefore  j'e  eat,  or  drink,  or  what- 
soever ye  do,  do  all  to  the  glor}-  of  God.  ,  1  Cor.  x,  31. 

The  singing  those  songs,  or  reading  those  hooks  which  do  not 
tend  to  the  knowledge  or  love  of  God. — See  then  that  ye  walk 
circumspectl}',  not  as  fools,  but  as  wise,  redeeming  the  time,  be- 
cause the  days  are  evil.  Speaking  to  yourselves  in  psalms  and 
hymns  and  spiritual  songs,  singing  and  making  melody  in  your 
heart  to  the  Lord.    Eph.  v,  15,  16,  19. 

Softness  or  needless  self-indulgence.  They  that  are  Christ's 
have  crucified  the  flesh,  with  the  affections  and  lusts.  Gal.  v,  24. 

Laying  up  treasure  upon  earth. — Where  your  treasure  is, 
there  will  be  your  heart  also.    Mat.  vi,  21. 

Borrowing  without  a  probability  of  paying,  or  taking  up 
goods  without  a  probability  of  paying  for  them. — Owe  no 
man  anything  but  to  love  one  another.  Horn,  xiii,  8 

The  wicked  borretb,  and  payeth  not  again:  but  the  right- 
eous showeth  mercy,  and  giveth.  Psalin  xxxvii,  21. 

It  is  expected  of  all  who  continue  in  these  Societies  that 
they  should  continue  to  evidence  their  desire  of  salvation, — 
Secondly,  by  doing  good,  by  being  in  every  kind  merciful 
afier  their  power,  as  the}^  have  opportunity,  doinij:  good  of 
every  possible  sort,  and,  as  far  as  possible  to  all  men: — To 
their  bodies  of  the  ability  which  God  giveth,  by  giving  food 
to  the  hungry,  by  clothing  the  naked,  by  visiting  or  helping 
them  that  are  sick  or  in  prison; — To  their  souls,  by  instruct- 
ing, reproving,  or  exhorting,  all  we  have  any  intercoursie 
w^ith;  trampling  under  foot  that  enthusiastic  doctrine,  that 
]  "we  are  not  to  do  good  unless  our  hearts  he  free  to  it.'' — As  we 
I  have  therefore  opportunity,  let  us  do  good  unto  all  men. 
I  Gal.  vi,  10. 

j  By  doing  good,  especially  to  them  that  are  of  the  house- 
I  hold  of  faith,  or  groaning  so  to  be;  em].>loying  them  pre- 
ferably to  others,  buying  one  of  another,  helping  each  other 
in  business;  and  so  much  the  more  because  the  world  will 
love  its  own,  and  them  only. — Beloved,  let  us  love  one 
another.  1  John  iv,  7.  Be  kindly  affectioned  one  to  anoth- 
er with  brotherly  love;  in  honor  preferring  one  another. 
Rom.  xii,  10. 

By  all  possible  diligence  and  frugality,  that  the  gospel 
be  not  blamed. — Xot  slothful  in  business.  Rom  xii,  11. 
Gather*****,  that  nothing  be  lost.  John  vi,  12.  But  if 
any  provide  not  lor  his  own,  and  especially  for  those  of  his 
own  house,  he  hath  denied  the  faith,  and  is  worse  tnan  an 
infidel.  1  Tim.  v,  8. 

By  running  with  patience  the  race  wliich  is  get  before 
them,  denying  themselves,  and  taking  up  their  cross  daily;  submitt- 


17 


ing  to  bear  the  reproach  of  Christ,  to  be  as  the  filth  and  oifscour- 
ing  of  the  world;  and  looking  that  men  should  say  all  manner  of 
evil  of  them  falsely  for  the  Lord's  sake. — If  ye  be  reproached  for 
the  name  of  Christ  happy  are  ye;  for  the  spirit  of  glory  and  of 
God  re§teth  upon  you.  1  Peter  iv,  14.  It  is  expected  of  all  who  j 
desire  to  continue  in  those  Societies  that  they  should  continue  to 
evidence  tbeir  desire  of  salvation. 

Thirdly,  by  attending  upon  all  the  ordinances  of  God;  such  are 
the  public  worship  of  God  : — Give  unto  the  Lord  the  glory  due 
unto  his  name:  bring  an  offering  and  come  into  his  courts.  Psa. 
xcvi,  8. — IS'dt  forsaking  the  assembling  of  ourselves  together  as 
the  manner  of  some  is.  Heb.  x,  25. 

The  ministry  of  the  word,  either  read  or  expounded  : — Take 
heed  therefore  how  ye  hear.  Luke  8:18,  Faith  cometh  by  hear- 
ing. Eora.  X,  17. 

The  supper  of  the  Lord: —  For  as  often  as  ye  eat  this  bread, 
and  drink  this  cup,  ye  do  show  the  Lord's  death  till  he  come. 
1  Cor.  xi,  26. — This  do  in  remembrance  of  me.  Luke  xxii,  19. 

Family  and  private  prayer ; — Pour  out  thy  fury  ^  *  *  upon 
the  families  that  call  not  on  thy  name.  Jer.  x,  25.  When  thou 
prayest,  enter  into  thy  closet,  and  pray  to  thy  Father  which  is  in 
secret.  Mat.  vi,  G.  Searching  the  Scriptures  ; — Search  the  script- 
ures. John  V,  39. 

Fasting  or  abstinence. — When  thou  fastest,  anoint  thine  head, 
and  wash  thy  face:  that  thou  appear  not  unto  men  to  fast,  but  .i 
unto  thy  Father,  which  is  in  secret :  and  thy  Father  which  seeth 
in  secret  shall  reward  the  openly.  Mat.  vi,  17,  IS- 
I     These  are  the  General  Eules  of  our  Societies;  all  of  which  we 
I  are  taught  of  God  to  observe,  even  in  his  written  word,  which 
is  the  only  rule,  and  the  sufficient  rule,  both  of  our  faith  and 
practice.    And  all  these  we  know  his  Spirit  writes  on  truly 
awakened  hearts.    If  there  be  any  among  us  who  observe  them 
I  not,  who  habitually  break  any  of  them,  let  it  be  known  unto 
them  who  watch  over  that  soul,  as  they  who  must  give  an  ac- 
count.   We  will  admonish  him  of  the  error  of  his  ways  :  we  will 
bear  with  him  for  a  season  ;  but  if  then  he  repent  not,  he  hath 
no  more  place  among  us:  we  have  delivered  our  own  souls.  Phil, 
iii,  16. 

 :o— O— :o  

THE  APOSTLES'  CEEED. 
I  believe  in  God  the  Father  Almighty,  Maker  of  heaven  and 
:  earth  ;  and  in  Jesus  Christ  his  only  son  our  Lord,  who  was  con- 
i  ceived  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  born  of  the  Yirgin  Mary,  suffered 
I  under  Pontius  Pilate ;  was  crucified,  dead,  an-d  buried  ;  the  third 
day  he  rose  from  the  dead;  he  ascended  into  heaven,  and  sitteth 
!  on  the  right  hand  of  God  the  Father  Almighty;  from  thence  he 
j  shall  come  to  judge  the  quick  and  the  dead.  j 


IS 


I  believe  in  the  Holy  G-host ;  the  holy  catholic  Church,  the 
I  communion  of  saints;  the  forgiveness  of  sins;  the  resurrection  of 
j  the  bodv,  and  the  life  everlasting.  Amen. 
I  "      THE  TEIS^  DOCTEIIS"ES  OF  GEACE 

I  AS  HELD  BY  THE  METHODIST  CHURCH. 

I.  I  believe  that  all  men  are  sinners. 

II.  I  believe  that  God  the  Father  loves  all  men  and  hates  all 
sin. 

!  III.  I  believe  that  Jesus  Christ  died  for  all  men  to  make  pos- 
sible their  salv^ition  from  sin,  and  to  make  sure  the  salvation  of 
all  who  believe  in  him. 

lY.  I  believe  that  the  Holy  Spirit  is  given  to  all  men  to  en- 
j  lighten  and  to  incline  them  to  repent  of  their  sins  and  to  believe 
in  the  lord  Jesus  Christ. 

Y.  I  believe  that  all  who  repent  of  their  sins  and  believe  in 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  receive  the  forgiveness  of  sim  [This  is 
justification.] 

YI.  I  believe  that  all  who  receive  the  forgiveness  of  sin  are 
at  the  same  time  made  new  creatures  in  Christ  Jesus.  [This  is 
regeneration.] 

YII.  I  believe  that  all  who  are  made  new  creatures  in  Christ 
Jesus  are  accepted  as  the  children  of  God,  [This  is  adoption.] 
I  YITI.  I  believe  that  all  who  are  accepted  as  the  children  of 
j  God  may  receive  the  inward  assurance  of  the  Holy  Spirit  to 
i  thiit  fact.  [This  is  the  witness  of  the  Spirit.] 
i  IX.  I  believe  that  all  who  truly  desire  and  seek  it,  may  love 
I  God  with  all  their  heart  and  soul,  mind  and  strength,  and  their 
i  neighbors  as  themselves.  [This  is  entire  sanctification.] 
I  X.  I  believe  thai  all  vv  ho  persevere  to"  the  end,  and  ou\y  those, 
I  shall  be  saved  in  heaven  forever.  [This  is  the  true  final  per- 
!  severance. 

 -0 — c:  

''Let  it  be  remembered,"  says  Dr.  Adam  Clark,"  that  repen- 
tance must  go  before  justification ;  that  justification  must  go  be- 
fore sanctification  and  that  sanctification  must  go  before  glori- 
fication.   Consequentlj^  he  who  does  not  repent  and  forsake  sin^ 
j  cannot  be  justified:  he  who  is  not  justified  cannot  be  sanctified, 
I  and  he  who  is  not  sanctified  cannot  be  glorified."    And  it  is 
j  the  duty,  as  Well  as  the  privilege,  of  ever}'  sinner  to  repent  and 
i  forsake  sin  and  to  believe  in  the  Son  of  God,  that  he  may  be 
;  justified  and  "have  peace  with  God."    It  is  the  duty  and  privi- 
'■  lege  of  every  justified  person  having  peace  with  God,  and  being 
;  reconciled  to  the  Father  to  la}'  aside  every  weight  and  sin 
i  which  doth  so  easily  beset  him,  and  run  with  patience  the  race 
set  before  him,  "not  laying  again  the  foundation  of  repentance 
from  dead  works,  and  of  faith  toward  God."    It  is  his  duty  and 
privilege  to  go  on  unto  perfection,  to  strive  to  be  holy  as  God  is 
holy.    And  thus  will  he  realize  that  heaven  is  not  alone  a  dis- 
tant country,  a  far-away  "rest  that  remaineth  to  the  people  of 


19 


God,"  but  that  it  is  in  this  life,  and  here  we  mi\j  enjoy  it — ''for 
the  kingdom  of  heaven  is  not  meat  and  drink  but  righteousness 
and  peace,  and  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost."  Then  when  the  Lord 
shall  call  the  laborer  home  to  the  "heaven  above  all  bt^avens," 
the  eternal  rest,  the  8aint3  delight,"  he  \vill  hear  the  summons 
with  joj-  and  go  home  rejoicing  to  live  forever  with  the  "glorifi-  \ 
ed  ones  o^'  earth."  j 

I 

The  Lord  God  Almighty,  Creator  of  heaven  and  earth,  so  | 
loved  the  world  that  he  gave  his  only  begotten  Son  that  whoso-  I 
ever  believeth  in  him  should  not  perish  but  have  everlasting  ! 
life,  Heb.  ii,  9;  1  Tim.  ii,  G:  2  Peter  iii,  9.    For  this  we  should 
never  cease  to  magnify  God.    He  sent  the  comforter  into  the 
world  to  convince  the  world  of  sin,  of  righteousness,  and  a  judg- 
ment to  come.  John  i,  10;  xvi,  8-19;  Rom.  ii,  14.    For  this  we 
should  never  cease  to  bless  his  holy  name.    He  gave  us  his 
blessed  Word  to  be  our  Man  of  Counsel,  a  lamp  unto  our  feet 
and  a  light  unto  our  pathway.  1  John  iv,  16;  Ps.  cxlv,  9.  For 
this  we  should  praise  him  forever.    These  are  the  three  great 
gifts  of  God  to  man,  and  through  them  we  may  find  and  walk  ; 
the  path  from  earth  to  heaven.  | 

I  After  death,  though  the  wicked  may  have  a  foretaste  of  the  | 
i  misery  that  awaits  them,  and  the  good  have  a  foretaste  of  the  j 
;  happiness  in  store  for  them,  all  souls  shall  only  be  in  a  state  of  I 
conscious  existence  till  the  resurrection.  Xeither  shall  be  i 
supremely  blessed  or  miserable  until  their  souls  shall  join  their  j 
resurrected  bodies;  for  in  them  they  spent  their  life  of  obedience 
or  disobedience  and  in  them  they  are  to  bear  their  eternal  pun-  I 
ishment  or  enjoy  the  everlasting  glories  of  heaven,  St.  Luke 
xxiii,^4o. 

God  calls  his  ministers,  and  every  true  minister  stands  in 
Christs  stead — an  "ambassador  for  Christ,"  to  do  the  work  that 
Christ  would  do  himself  were  he  here  in  the  Iftesh — which  is~  to 
preach  the  gospel  ;  for  it  bath  "pleased  God  by  the  foolishness 
of  preaching  to  save  them  that  believe."  Christ  says,  "I  am  the 
way  &c.,"  and  "no  man  cometh  unto  the  Father  but  by  me" — 

I  there  is  none  other  name  given  under  heaven  among  men  where- 

'  by  we  may  be  saved. 

The  minister  stands  in  a  very  respofisible  position  to  his  flock,  j 
He  is  to  nourish  them  with  the  word  of  eternal  life;"  to  feed  j 
them  with  "the  sincere  milk  of  the  word:"  applying  it  continu-  | 
ally  "for  doctrine;"  teaching  thenvall  the  essentiaf  doctrines;  — 
"for  reproof,"  warning  them  if  they  turn  aside  from  the  wav;— 

j  "for  correction,"  showing  them  how  to  amend  all  wrong,  ^and 

•  gmdi:.g  them  back  in  the  way  of  all  peace; — "for  instruction  in 
rio;hteousness,"  training  thein  up  to  outward  holiness,  "until 
they  come  to  a  perfect  man,  to  the  measure  of  the  stature  of 
the  fulness  of  Christ."    They  are  to  "watch  over  your  souls,  as 


20 


those  that  shall  give  an  account,"  "to  take  heed  unto  all  the  I 
flock  over  which  the  Holy  Ghost  hath  made  them  overseers, 
and  to  feed  the  church  of*  God  which  he  hath  purchased  with 
his  own  blood."  I 

We  are  not  to  accept  everj^  preacher  as  a  true  minister;  but  j 
we  are  to  "try  the  Spirits  whether  they  are  of  God^  because 
many  false  prophets  are  gone  out  into  the  world."  This  is  the  | 
sign  by  which  we  may  know  the  true  man  of  God:  ''By  their 
fruits  y'e  shall  know  them."  To  them  we  must  "submit"  our- 
selves, and  "obej^"  them.  It  is  our  bounden  duty  to  "obey" 
every  true  minister  of  God.  But  every  one  mus_t  give  an  ac- 
count of  hbriself  to  God.  Therefore,  every  man  njust  judge  for 
himself;  especially  in  a  point  of  so  deep  importance  as  this  is, — - 
who  is  a  true  minister  and  guide  for  his  soul. 

How  far  and  in  what  instances  wc  are  to  "obey"  and  "submit" 
ourselves  to  the  ministers  of  God  is  a  point  of  some  considera- 
tion. The  things  which  the  minister  would  enjoin  must  be,  as 
Mr.  Wesly  says,"either  of  God,  or  forbidden  by  him,  or  inditferent. 
In  things  forbidden  of  God  we  are  not  to  obey  him;  for  wc 
should  obey  God  rather  than  man.  In  things  enjoined  of  God, 
we  do  not  properly  obey  him,  but  our  common  Father."  There- 
fore if  we  would  obey  the  minister  at  all,  we  must  obey  him  in 
things  indijferent — l  things  not  directhj  enjoined  orfoi  bidden 
in  the  Scriptures.  These  things  the  minister  is  supposed  to 
kuow^  more  about  than  any  one. else,  because  he  makes  the  word 
of  God  his  study  ;  and  in  these  things  you  are  taught  to  sub- 
mit yourselves  to  them  who  are  over  you  in  the  Lord,"  and  to 
"esteem  them  very  highl}^  in  love  for  their  work's  sake ;"  and 
"let  the  elders  that  rule  lO^U  be  counted  worthy  of  double  honor, 
especially  they  who  labor  in  the  ivord  and  doctrine^ 

There  are  certain  duties  we  all  owe  to  God  which  may  be 
summed  up  under  the  word  and  embracing  internal 

jrrinctples  and  external  ditties. 

We  should  all  be  sulgcct  to  God.  because  he  hath  created  uS' — 
he  gave  us  our  existeiscein  the  world  and  surrounded  us  with 
all  "the  necessary  comniodities  of  Irfc,  and  he  hath  redeemed  us 
with  his  own  most  precious  blood.  The  apostle  says,  "3-e  are 
not  your  own,  for  ye  are  bought  with  a  price  ;  therefore  glorify 
God  in  your  body  and  in  your  spirit  which  are  God's."  Eut 
the  greatest  reason  of  our  submission  to  God  should  be  his 
righteous  and  holy  will,  and  this  will  should  regulate  all  of  our 
actions.  The  will  of  God  is  the  only  rule  of  moral  virtue.  It 
has  authority ;  it  delines  and  enforces  every  branch  of  duty ; 
it  annuls,  by  its  authority,  every  other  rule  of  conduct  contrary 
to  itself;  it  is  a  rule  which  instead  of  lowering  its  claims  to  suit 
man's  weakness,  connects  itself  with  an  offer  of  strength  from 
on  high  ;  it  accommodates  itself  to  no  niun":.  interest  ;  and  admits 
of  no  exceptions  in  obedience.  But  it  is  not  possible  that  we 
could  ever  keep  the  will  of  God  unless  we  loved  him,  and  there- 


21 


fore  we  are  commanded  to  love  him  with  all  our  soul,  mind  and 
strength.  This  is  the  sum  and  end  of  all  law.  It  gives  life  and 
animation  to  service;  it  rejoices  in  his  })erfections  and  glories  ; 
it  keeps  him  ever  present  to  mind  ;  it  turns  us  to  Grod  from  all 
the  distractions  of  life,  and  it  connects  all  the  beauty  and  every 
event  in  nature  with  the  special  blessings  of  a  divine  providence. 

If  we  love  God  we  will  tntyf  him,  and  indeed  we  cannot  fully 
love  him  until  we  do  trust  hitn.  So  we  are  con\manded  to  trust 
him,  bc(  ;uuu;  it  is  a  habit  essential  to  piety,  and  upon  this  con- 
dition we  obtain  the  promises. 

S-n.  ;i;  (\  iWG  wc  Commanded  to  fear  him.    It  is  associated 
and  trust  in  every  part  of  the  holy  Scriptures.  The 
j  .oar  ui  Kjod  is  to  "hate  evil;"'it  is  the  beginning  of  wisdom;"  it 
i  is  to  "keep  his  commandments,"  it  is  to  '  enjoy  his  merc}^;"  to 
'\s])eak  often  one  to  another,"  and  to  "give  him  glory."    It  is 
both  a  reverence  of  the  Divine  Majesty,  and  a  suitable  appre- 
hension of  our  conditional  liabilil}-  to  his  displeasure.  These 
four  internal  princii)les  of  the  Soul  of  man  beget  holiness  of 
heart  and  life  and  without  them  it  is  im})ossible  to  be  "thorough- 
ly furnished  unto  every  good  work." 

The  external  duties  are  Prayer,  Praise.  Thanksgiving,  and 
observance  of  the  Lord's  day.'  All  of  w^hich  it  is  our  bounden 
duty  to  observe.  Pi'ayer  is  enjoyed  in  the  Scripiures  l)y  yiat- 
'  \\ew  vii,  7;  Luke  xxi,  3(5;  Phil.  \  v.  G;  1  Thess.  v,  IT.  it  is  re- 
uired  to  be  sincere  in  St.  J  (Am  iv.  24;  Eom.  xii,  12;  Luke  xi;  2 
v'oi.  xii,  8,  9.  And  it  is  to  i)e  oliered  in  the  heart  under  all  cir- 
cumstances and  in  all  conditions.  It  is  to  be  otfered  in  private, 
in  the  family  and  in  all  public  services  to  Aimight}'  (Jod.  Praise 
and  Thanksgiving  'consists  in  the  singing  of  Psalms  and  hymns 
witi)  •the  voice,  united  with  the  melody  (;f  the  heart.  The  ob- 
servance of  the  Lord's  day  is  obligatory  upon  all  Christians, 
tiiough  it  is  no  whei'e  enjoined  by  Christ  or  the  fvpostles. 

We  are  not  to  kill.  The  law  says,  "Thou  shalt  not  kill."  To 
this,  however,  there  are  a  tew  e?vCeptions.  We  m.ay  defend  our- 
selves agaihst  the  unjust  perseeuiwr  o\-<'n  to  the  death  wlien  no 
other  means  will  avail  ;  we  may  talsc  life  in  a  lawiully  waged 
war.  There  arc?  many  that  deny  w.e  can  take  life  in  vrar,  and 
some  even  oppose  the  taking  of  lire  under  any  circunistances 
Vv'hatever.  We  may  execute  tiic  criminal  wlio  hiis  been  duly 
tried  by  process  of  law  and  found  guilty;  but  for  wilful  murder, 
suicides,  and  duelling  thei'c3  is  no  excuse.  "Whoso  sheddeth 
inan's  bfood,  by  man  shall  his  blood  be  shed."  ^-Under  this 
same  head  may  be  embraced,  sinfid  a/u/ir^  haired  or  iniUice.  re- 
venge,  strife,  excess — in  relation  to  i'ood,  drink,  or  labor — i/.n- 
iiccessarj/  exposure  of  our  own  life  or  ihut  of  otfters,  and  the  tieg- 
lect  of  the  necessary  n\<ii\\M^  o'i  prc:]cn:i'n(i  life  under  any  circuni- 
]  stances."  All  of  these  are  forbidden  in  (lod's  word.  Paul  says, 
j  'Ljet  all  bitterness,  and  wrath  and  anger,  and  clamor,  be  put 


22 


away  from  jou.  with  all  malice."    '-Eecompense  to  no  man  evil 
for  evil."    "Follow  peace  with  all  men."    "Do  all  things  witlr- 
out  murmurino;  and  disputing."    We  are  not  to  steal."  "Thou 
shalt  not  steal."  says  the  law.  But  we  are  commanded  to  "do  unto  | 
others  as  we  would  that  they  should  do  unto  us ;"  "N'ot  to  bear  | 
false  witness  against  thy  neighbor,"  but  to  "love  our  neighbor  j 
as  ourselves  ;"  "ISTot  to  covet  iiv\y  thing  that  is  thy  neighbor's 
"For  if  any  man  love  the  w^orid  the  love  of  the  Father  is  not  in  | 
him."    We  are  to  entertain  the  stranger;  from  him  that  would  ! 
borrow  of  us  not  to  turn  away;  to  feed  the  hungry  ;  clothe  the 
naked  ;  visit  the  sick,  acting  the  part  of  an  angel  of  mercy 
everywhere  and  doing  good  to  all,  having  Christ  for  our  ex- 
am ])lo. 

"Every  Christian,  by  uniting  with  the  Church,  enters  upon  a 
solemn  promise  and  pledge  to  submit  to  its^rderand  discipline, 
and  to  consecrate  to  the  cause  of  God  and  to  the  interest  of  the. 
kingdom  of  Christ  his  diligent  and  faithful  service,  devoting 
thereto,  after  providing  for  his  own  household,"  his  time, 
talents,  labors,  and  substance."  The  Church  is  a  bod}'  and  each 
individual  a  member  of  that  body  with  Christ  their  head.  If 
one  rejoices  all  should  rejoice.  We  are  to  rejoice  with  those 
that  rejoice  and  weep  with  those  that  weep."  All  Christians 
are  brethren,  and  as  brethren  they  should  live.  The  Word 
says,  the  primitive  Christians  "had  all  things  common  ;  and  sold 
their  possessions  and  goods,  and  parted  them  to  all  men  as  every 
i  man  had  need  ;"  nor  'was  there  any  among  them  that  lacked  ;" 
the}'  "were  of  one  heart  and  one  soul."  This  was  the  S})irit 
that  characterized  the  early  Christians;  and  though  we-  do  not 
profess  to  have  "all  things  common,"  yet  the  spmf  that  actuated 
those  Christians  should  (i\m\iictev\ze  every  professing  follower  of 
Christ  to-day.  All  Christians  must  have  the  "same  spirit"— the 
spirit  of  Christ;  and  if  you  have  not  his  spirit"^' oi^  are  none  of 
his.  Eead  3  John  iii.  17  ;  1  Tim.  vi.  9.  10  ;  lieb.  xiii.  6;  vi.  10  : 
1  Tim.  vi.  6,  7;  2  Cor.  ix.  6.  7;  Mat.  xix.  24:  i  Tim.  vi.  17-19: 
1  Cor.  vi.  19,  20.  These  all  tell  us  we  are  to  consecrate  our- 
selves to  God  ivholly  and  not  to  "lay  up  treasures  tipon  earth/" 
"If  the  genuine  Christian,  the  kind,  the  benevolent,  the  g(  (  i'. 
would  rally  with  renewed  energy  around  the  blessed  cros-  - 
I  they  would  rise  a  mighty  host  in  the  name  of  Christ,  and  go 
forth  with' resistless  power,  and  push  the  battle  to  the  gate  of 
i  the  enemy.  Before  the  influence  of  Christians  thus  devoted  to 
i  God.  living  for  God,  laboring  and  suffering  for  God,  walking  "by 
i  faith  and^not  by  sight/'  inflamed  by  holy  zeal,  warmed  by 
heavenly  love,  trampling  beneath  their  feet  the  pomp  of  the 
w^orld,  and  csteemini^  "all  things  but  loss  ibr  the' excelience  ot 
the  knowledge  ofXJhrist  Jesus:"  before  the  influence  of  such  a 
Christian  bound  the  heart  of  stone  would  melt,  the  scoffer  would 
(  be  silenced,  the  sinner  would  tremble,  infidelity  would  be  struck 
dumb,  and  hell,  in  its  gloomy  center,-  would  feel:the  shock."  j 


23 


But  they  are  not  so.  They  are  laying  up  treasures  in  this 
world;  losing  time  and  strength;  murdering  their  souls;  throwing 
away  the  treasnre  in  heaven,  and  gaining  riches,  and  hell  fire. 
When  men  and  means  are  wanted  for  the  purpose  of  war,  the 
work  of  blood  and  slaughter,  how  soon  are  tlie  magazines  of 
earth  opened  to  pour  out  their  treasures  and  the  phxins  covered 
with  the  marshaling  hosts!  Let  but  a  similar  zeal  inspire  the 
Church,  and  the  friends  of  Christ  be  w.illing  to  rally  round  the 
cross  of  Calvary,  and  pour  into  the  treasury  of  the  Lord  the 
wealth  now  corrupting  in  the  coffers  of  the  rich,  who  "profess 
and  call  themselves  Christians,"  and  we  shall  soon"  see  temples 
of  vv^orship,  with  steeples  and  spires,  bells  and  organs  all  over 
this  land  of  ours  and  "send  armies  and  armaments  to  China 
and  Japan,  to  Hindostan,  Brazil  and  Mexico  Oceanlca;  and 
Ethiopia  shall  stretch  forth  her  hands  to  God,"  while  "the  isles 
shall  wait  for  his  law."' 

"Were  the  Churches  generally  to  carry  out  this  principle  of 
entire  consecration,  the  influence  would  be  like  a  sweeping 
revolution,  not  scattering  death  and  destruction  in  its  track, 
but  sanctifying  the  Church,  feeding  the  hungry,  clothing  the 
naked,  supplying  the  wants  of  the  needy,  visiting  the  sick,  con- 
verting the  world,  defying  in  its  majestic  sweep  all  opposition, 
and  bearing  upon  its  bosom  the  blessings  of  peace,  prosperity, 
happiness  and  eternal  life,  to  all  the  nations  of  the  earth." 

The  Bible  explicitly  teaches  that  there  is  a  heaven  for  the 
good.  Lan.  xii,  2;  Ps.  xvi,  2;  Mat.  xxv,  34,  46;  1  Thess.  iv,  17. 
ilev.  ii,  10;  iii,  21;  xiv,  13;  vii,  15,  17;  xxii,  3;  v,  9-13;  1  John 
iii,  2;  Heb.  xi.  35;  Luke  xiv,13,  14. 

"Heaven!  What  a  world  it  is.  A  world  free  from  sin  and 
sorrow,  pain  and  tears;  where  deceit,  backbiting,  falsehood,  jeal- 
ousy and  hate  are  never  known;  where  sighs  and  groans,  envy, 
outrage,  wrong  and  death  can  never  come. 

1^0  sickness  there, 
1^0  weary  wasting  of  the  frame  away, 
l\o  fearful  shrinking  from  the  midnight  air, 
]S'o  dread  of  summer's  bright  and  fervid  ray 

'No  hidden  grief, 
ISTo  wild  and  cheerless  vision  of  despair, 
No  vain  petition  for  a  swift  relief. 
No  tearful  eye,  no  broken  hearts  are  there. 

Care  has  no  home 
Within  that  realm  of  rapturous  praise  and  song; 
Its  tossing  billows  break  and  melt  in  foam, 
Far  from  the  mansions  of  the  Spirit  throng. 

No  parted  friends 
O'er  mournful  recollections  have  to  weep; 


24 


jSTo  bed  of  death  enduring  love  attends 
To  watch  the  coming  of  a  pulseless  sleep. 

No  blasted  flowers, 
Or  withered  buds  celestial  gardens  grow; 
No  scorching  blast  or  fierce  descending  shower 
Scatters  destruction  like  a  ruthless  foe. 

I  No  battle  word 

Startles  the  sacred  host  with  fear  and  dread ; 
The  song  of  peace  creation's  morning  heard, 
Is  sung  wherever  angel  minstrels  tread. 

Oh,  land  unknown,  oh,  land  of  love  divine! 

Father,  all  wise,  eternal, 
Guide,  guide  the  wandering  way  worn  feet  of  mine 

Into  those  pastures  vernal." 

I  The  word  of  God  is  sure.  There  is  a  Hell  for  the  wicked, 
i  Not  a  few,  however,  have  endeavored  to  prove  the  contrary. 
!  So,  to  the  "law  and  the  testimony."  In  Horn,  i,  18;  11,8,9;  2 
I  Thess.  i,  7,  8;  Mat.  xxii,  13;  xxv,  30;  Kev.  xx,  15;  xxi,  8.  we 
{find  such  peculiar  descriptions  of  punishment  as  are  not  all  ap- 
'  plicable  to'  the  sufferings  of  the  wicked  in  this  life.  .  Then,  the 
I  punishment  of  the  wicked  must  be  eternal  if  the  happiness  of 
i  the  good  is.  See  Mat.  xiii,  41-43:  viii,  11.  12;  Luke  xiii,  28;  1 
Thess.  iv,  IC,  17;  2  Thess.  i,  7-10.  The  punishment  of  the 
i  wicked  and  the  Devils  are  to  be  together  say  Mat.  xxv,  41. 

THE  SINNER, 

Dead,  swift  and  dreadful,  he  descends 

Down  to  the  fircry  coast, 
Among  abominable  fiends 

Himself  a  frighted  ghost. 

Where  scenes  of  borrow  and  of  dread 

Arise  to  meet  him  there! 
Hell's  terroi's  all  appear  in  red 

Eternal  damning  fire.  . 

And  the  red  flames  around  him  twine 

The  fi'ry  billows  Eoll, 
No  God  in  the  regions  around 

To  pity  the'  poor  fool. 

 o:— O— :o  

"V". 

We  establish  our  form  of  church  government  and  polity,  not 
upon  mere  human  authority,  and  declare  that  "no  particular 
form  of  Government"  has  ever  been  given,  but  upon  the  word  of 
God. 


25 


All  wili  udmiL  there  was  a  church  in  the  days  of  the  apostles 
and  if  there  was,  there,  surely,  must  have  been  some  kind  of 
CTOvernmcnt;  and  that  govcrnn-icnt  must  have  had  a  form.  In 
the  Law  of  Moses  the  utmost  pains  are  taken  that  all  things  be 
explicit.  Arc  we  then  to  suppose  that  the  superior  dispensation 
should  be  left  without  form  and  under  '^shadows,  clouds,  and 
darkness"?  Certainly  not.  And,  in  fact,  the  Christian  Church 
is  not  another  Church,  but  the  very  same  that  was  before  the 
con;.ing  of  Christ;  having  the  same  faith  with  it,  and  interested 
in  the  same  covenant."  Christ  came  and  made  great  alterations  ' 
and  appointed  new  ordinances  of  worship;  but  established  no 
new  Church. 

The  first  thing  wc  will  notice  in  the  Government  of  the 
Church  is  the  source  of  power  and  authority.  Vv^here  is  it 
placed?  The  Savior  had  all  power,  he  made  the  changes  and 
instituted  the  new  orders — lie  was  the  leader,  but  as  he  was 
not  to  remain  in  the  flesh  he  delegated  power  to  the  apostles 
and  thc^e  apostles  to  othei-s  as  it  became  necessary.  Apostles 
and  ministers  were  before  Churches — Churches  did  not  make  or 
•ordain  the  ministers,  but  the  ministers  constituted  the  Churches. 
And,  so,  the  Church  is  commanded  to  be  steadfast  in  the  afjos- 
tles  doctrine  and  fellowship.  Acts  ii,  42.  And  when  they  sold 
their  possessions.  "They  brought  the  prices  of  the  things  that 
were  sold  and  laid  them  down  at  tlie  apostle's  feet."  Acts4:o-l, 

.\gain,  we  notice,  that  Titus  and  Timothy  were  emj)0wcred 
and  commissioned  by  Paul  to  exercise  apostolic  jurisdiction 
under  his  directions.  vSee  1  Tim.  i.  ^J,  4,  18;  Titus  i.  5.  That 
Timothy  may  know.  Paul  gives  him  instructions  as  to  who  he 
shall  select  and  ordain  deacons.  See  1  Tim.  iii:  10,  14, 15;  2  Tim. 
ii:  2.  In  chapter  4:  11,  12,  we  sec  that  Paul  tells  Timothy  '^thesc 
things  command  and  teach:"  and  though  he  is  j'oung — and,  for 
this  reason  some  ma)^  think  he  has  no  authority  over  them — he 
says  "let  no  man  despise  thy  youth."  In  the  fifth  chapter  1,  2, 
we  see  the  manner  in  which  he  is  to  rule.  Then  in  the  21  verse 
he  charges  Timothj^  before  God  to  observe  these  things.  Paul 
even  gave  Timothy  commandment  concerning  the  salary  of  the 
ministers  which  he  should  appoint,  saying,  '-Let  the  ciders  that 
rule  well  be  counted  worthy  of  double  honor." 

Here,  then,  is  the  apostle's  plan  of  orxlaining  ministers:  He  i 
ordains  Timothy  and  directs  Timothy  to  ordain  others — Here  | 
is  the  ruling  power  be  gives  them:  To  "set  in  order  things  j 
that  are  v^-antiug,"  to  "rebuke"  false  teachers  "sharply,"  to  "re-  i 
buke  with  cdl  authority,"  and  even  "heretics  to  reject" — to  ex- 
communicate. I 

From  all  these  remarks  we  are  bound  to  conclude  that  the  k 
INTew  Testament  teaches  plainly  that  the  Government  of  the  ! 
Church  is  committed  to  the  ministers.    Yet  we  think  it  was  the  | 
custom  as  well  as  the  practice  of  the  early  ministers  to  admit  j 
aymen  into  their  councils,  conferences  &c. 


20 


Apostles,  prophets,  bishops,  presbyters  or  elders,  deacons, 
pastors,  evangelists,  teachers,  are  titles  used  by  the  writers  of 
the  New  Testament  to  designate  the  offices  of  the  ministry. 
But  nearly  all  these  offices  may  be  met  in  the  same  person. 
All  ministers  are  se7it  of  God  ;  all  declare  the  promises  to  the 
faithful  and  the  threatening  against  the  wicked;  all  explain, 
and  all  teach.  But  all  are  not  pastors  ;  all  are  not  evangelists; 
all  are  not  deacons :  all  are  not  elders ;  nor  are  all  bishops. 
Deacons  are  the  inferior,  and  elders  the  superior  order  of  the 
ministry.  All  other  names  are  but  significations  of  office  or 
work. 

According  to  the  examples  in  the  New  Testament  no  proper)}- 
organized  Church  can  be  established  and  perpetuated  except 
through  the  divinely  established  instrumentality  of  an  ordained 
ininistry.  And  for  the  promotion  of  Christianity,  for  the  spread- 
ing of  the  gospel,  and  care  of  the  churches  this  ministry  must 
comprise  an  itinerant  evangelistic  department  and  a  regular 
pastorate  relation.  We  think  the  Methodist  Church  is  con- 
ducted upon  Bible  principles  and  nearer  the  apostolic  plan  than 
any  other. 

 o:— O— :o  

CLASS  MEETINGS. 
These  meetings  afford  Christians  frequent  opportunities  of 
speaking  to  one  another  concerning  their  personal  religious  ex-  \ 
perience,  and  prajing  for  one  another.    This  feature  of  Meth-  | 
odism  has  proved  to  be  a  wonderful  agent  for  the  spread  of  the 
gospel,  and  building  up  Christians  in  the  most  holy  faith. 

I.  "It  promotes  a  wholesome  self-examination. 

2..  "It  is  eminently  favorable  for  the  recovery  of  delinquents. 

3.  "It  opens  a  convenient  door  for  the  return  to  Christian 
fellowship  of  wayward  members. 

4.  "It  affords  rare  opportunities  for  religious  instruction. 

5.  "It  serves  an  important  purpose  by  way  of  sifting  out  un- 
worthy persons. 

6.  "It  tells  the  spiritual  condition  of  the  church. 

7.  "It  promotes  Christian  fellowship. 

8.  "It  shows  the  true  idea  of  Christian  communion. 

9.  "It  sets  every  member  to  work. 

10.  "It  is  an  important  aid  to  the  pulpit. 

II.  "It  promotes  the  culture  of  spiritual  gifts  and  graces. 

12.  "It  is  the  best  school  of  experimental  divinity  the  world 
has  ever  seen." 

As  Christians  we  cannot  do  without  the  class  meeting.  To 
dispense  with  it  is  next  to  dispensing  with  religion.  It  is  the 
Christian's  fort  and  castle  in  which  to  get  fresh  courage,  new 
strength  and  more  faith  to  go  out  against  the  enemy.  Let 
every  Christian  rally  to  the  class  meeting  for  rapid  growth  in  , 


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grace.    Mat.  iii,  16,  17;  Mob.  x,  25;  Jas.  v.  16;  Col.  iii,  16; 
Psa.  Ixvi,  16  ;  Mat.  xiii,  36. 

LOVE-FEASTS. 

• 

The  love-fcast  is  designed  to  show  forth  the  love  and  fellovv- 
sbip  of  Christians  for  each  other  by  a  plain  feast  of  bread  and 
water  and  to  encourage  one  another  in  the  Christirtn  life.  Here, 
there  is  no  difference,  the  rich  and  poor,  the  high,  and  low,  all  i 
meet  together  at  a  common  table  as  brethren  and  sisters — as  , 
one  in  Christ  Jesns.    Each  one  takes  a  sip  of  water  and  a  " 
crumb  of  bread  as  the  leader  passes  round,  in  tokcn.of  his  love,  ' 
after  which,  those  who  feel  disposed,  relate  some  of  their  christ-  j 
ian  warfares  and  encourage  others  to  be  faithful. 

It  seems  that  Jude  refers  to^e  Love-Feast  in  the  12th  verse 
of  his  epistle  and  there  seems  Wk:)e  an  intimation  of  it  in  the 
Acts  XX.  7;ii,  42,  46.    But  we  ma,^  be  assured  the  Love-Feast 
is  not  contrary  to  the  word  of  God.    It  is  a  great  means  of  j 
grace.  *  "  j 

ITINERAj^T  MINISTi^V.  | 

This  is  the  most  prominent  peculiarity  of  methodism  and  one  j 
against  which  human  nature  is  ever  opposed.  It  takes  a  chris-  | 
tian  man  to  stand  the  test  of  the  itinerant  ministry.  It  is  after  I 
the  plan  of  Christ  and  the  apostles.  The  Lord  "went  about  } 
doing  good,''  teaching  and  exhorting,  and  the  apostles  traveled  i 
until  they  bad  preached  to  all  if.e  woi  id,  '-to  every  creature  I 
which  is  under  heaven."  Tliey  were  sent,  v.dthout  purse  or  j 
script,  depending  u])0ii  tlic  people  for  a  sujjport,  and  so  the  : 
iv.etbodist  preachers  are  sent.  '  This  is  evangelization.  This  is  ' 
jing  '-'mio  the  world  and  preaching  the  gospel  to  <  vtry  creature."  1 

j  And  this  is  that  which  God  has  ordained  to  l/riiig  the  world  ;' 

I  unto  himself  "  i 

The  m^>ri)ing  light  is  breaking; 

The  darkness  disappears; 
The  sons  of  earth  are  wukir.g 

To  pcidtcnlial  tears. 


4 


